Lake Norman
Tae Kwon Do America
704-663-0001
* 132 Joe V Knox Ave. Suite B102, Mooresville, NC 28117 * LNTKD@aol.com
Choosing A Martial
Arts School
Since I opened my school, I have been frequently asked by parents what to look for when trying to find a quality martial arts school. Many want to provide this information to their friends or family who can not attend classes at this school due to its location. And unfortunately, I have also been asked by my current students who are moving away. After much thought, I have come up with the following things that parents should ask themselves or look for in a martial arts school before enrolling.
The Instruction
The martial arts style is not as important as the instructor.
Look for a full time school with a full time chief instructor who teaches most of the classes. Because a certain level of maturity is needed to deal with the numerous life issues that students confront, the instructor should be over the age of 25.
Look at the actual teaching skills of the instructor rather than his/her rank. Provided that the Chief Instructors rank is at least that of 2nd Degree Black Belt, rank is really not that important. There are more false Masters of the martial arts than there are legitimate ones. Be very careful of this, or any other, title.
Make sure that all of the people who will be teaching are at least a black belt and have been certified to teach by some national martial arts group. Colored belts should only be used in supporting roles to keep order.
Find out how often the assistant instructors actually teach the class.
Do not be influenced by trophies or the instructor's tournament accomplishments. The number of trophies and tournament accomplishments of the instructor does not mean that the instructor can teach. Championships and trophies are not what true martial arts is about.
What was the chief instructor's profession and/or occupation prior to opening the school? What was the instructor's highest level of formal education?
Make sure the instructor is affiliated with some national martial arts organization that provides some sort of quality control.
The Classes
Inquire about the number of classes that you or your child can attend each week. The more the better. Make sure that the class times are flexible so that if a hectic week forces you to change your schedule that you can still attend class.
Make sure that parents and spectators are allowed to watch classes. A closed door policy is a red flag that something is wrong with the teaching methods in the school.
Are classes fun or is it the same thing day after day? While repetition is important, classes should be an interesting, fun learning experience.
When do students begin breaking wood or sparring? White belts should NEVER be asked to do either!
Children and adults should have separate class times. They should not be training together.
Can students get special help if needed? Whether the help is provided by fellow students or the chief instructor, students should be able to get help before or after class or through private lessons.
Does the school participate in open tournaments or invitations? Open tournaments are usually not as organized as invitations.
What activities does the school do besides classes, testings and tournaments to promote a family atmosphere? Look for activities such as lock-ins, parties, picnics, etc.
The School
Try to pick a school with a convenient location. If it is not convenient, you will not utilize it. However, this should be your last priority. Convenience alone is not a good method of picking a school. But at the same time, a school across town is not a good option.
Make sure that the location is clean and is cleaned on a regular basis.
The Membership
One year memberships are standard in our industry among full-time instructors. Do not initially sign up for more than one year. If they pressure you for more, forget it. Leave. Never pay for your initial membership up front. Pay in monthly installments in case the school should close.
Ask how often the students test and how much testing costs. Specifically ask how much it costs to test for Black Belt testings (at some schools this could be hundreds of dollars). Also ask what equipment the students are required to have, when they are required to have it, and how much it costs.
Make sure that the rates are reasonable, but do not go to the cheapest place. Remember, you get what you pay for.
How do I pick a martial arts style for my child?
There are two basic schools of martial arts. The soft (internal) styles and the hard (external) styles.
The hard styles rely on striking as their primary mode of defense. In other words, an attacker is repelled with intercepting force. While these styles do teach other techniques, these schools teach the student how to use all of the body parts as weapons and emphasize body conditioning. The most known hard styles are Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Kung-fu.
The soft styles rely on the manipulation of body parts and body weight as their primary mode of defense. An attacker would not be intercepted, but deflected and the attacker's own energy would be used against him/her. Many of these styles rely on grappling with the attacker. The most known soft styles are Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo and Tai Chi.
There is no style better than another. If anyone, including an instructor, should say that their style is better, it is a clear indication that they don't fully understand the true nature of the martial arts.
As I stated earlier, the martial arts style is not a good way to choose a martial arts school. While I teach Tae Kwon Do, I know Tae Kwon Do instructors that I would never recommend. And I know Aikido, Jujitsu, and Kung-Fu instructors that I would recommend without reservation. The style taught at a particular school is not important. You should always pick a school based on the instructor and the program that he/she teaches. After all, the life skills and lessons that the martial arts teaches students come primarily from a patient, understanding but stern instructor who is always readily available or easily accessible: not from a particular martial arts technique.
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132 Joe Knox Ave. Suite B102
Mooresville, NC 28117
(Between the Williamson Post Office & the YMCA)
The Longest Lasting Tae Kwon Do / Karate / Martial Arts school in the Lake Norman / Mooresville area
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Lake Norman Tae Kwon Do - 132 Joe Knox Ave. Suite B102 - Mooresville, NC 28117 - 704-663-0001
Last Revised Nov 18, 2009
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